Inklingo

How to Say "calling" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “calling” is “llamando” — use 'llamando' when referring to the act of speaking to someone on the phone, often in the present continuous tense..

English → Spanish

llamando

yah-MAHN-doh/ʝaˈman.do/

VerbA1Informal
Use 'llamando' when referring to the act of speaking to someone on the phone, often in the present continuous tense.
A friendly cartoon character holding a simple red telephone receiver up to their ear, engaged in a conversation.

Examples

¿Quién está llamando a estas horas?

Who is calling at this hour?

Están llamando a los niños para la cena.

They are calling the children for dinner.

Aún no he terminado; sigo llamando a los clientes.

I haven't finished yet; I'm still calling the clients.

Continuous Action

The word 'llamando' is a special verb form (the gerund) used with the verb 'estar' (to be) to show an action happening right now: 'Estoy llamando' means 'I am calling'.

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy llamando.”

Correction: Estoy llamando. Remember that the continuous action (the 'ing' form) always uses the temporary verb 'estar'.

llamado

/ya-MA-do//ʎaˈma.ðo/

NounB2Formal
Use 'llamado' when referring to a strong inner urge or vocation, like a life's purpose or a career path.
A figure standing on a dark, winding path, looking toward a powerful, singular beam of golden light shining down from the sky, symbolizing a life's calling or vocation.

Examples

Desde joven sintió el llamado de la medicina.

From a young age, he felt the calling of medicine.

La organización hizo un llamado a la solidaridad internacional.

The organization made an appeal for international solidarity.

Verb vs. Noun Confusion

Learners often confuse 'llamando' (the gerund of the verb 'to call' on the phone) with 'llamado' (a noun meaning vocation). Remember that 'llamando' describes an action, while 'llamado' describes a personal destiny or purpose.

Related Translations

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